Permit for Rohtang Pass – Updates 2017

A couple of years back, the permit for Rohtang Pass was enforced by NGT for any vehicles traveling on Manali to Rohtang Pass road. Ever since there has been so much confusion on the application of this permit and to add to the misery, rules changes almost every year. In this article today, I will try to brief about the new updates and caveats related to the permit for Rohtang Pass in 2017. This will help you be updated on the new process and make your journey to Rohtang pass or beyond, a bit hassle free 🙂 🙂

Have you applied permit for Rohtang Pass?

Recent Updates on Permit for Rohtang Pass

This season, about 25 electric buses will ply on Manali – Rohtang Pass road. This will certainly help those tourists who cannot drive their own vehicles due to restricted number of vehicles allowed by NGT on a per day basis.

A permit for Rohtang Pass is required to travel on the road from Manali to Rohtang Pass. On a daily basis, the permit for Rohtang Pass is restricted to only 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles to travel to Rohtang Pass.

The permit for Rohtang Pass is available on first come, first serve basis.

In order to apply for the permit, you need to show a valid photo ID proof, Valid Pollution Under Check (PUC) Certificate and Vehicle Registration Date (Age of vehicle not to be more than 10 yrs).

This year as well permit for Rohtang Pass will be available online as per the last couple of years. You can apply them from 12:00 PM to 24:00 AM on the official website of Kullu administration. This permit will not be available for Tuesdays as Rohtang Pass is closed for maintenance on Tuesdays for tourism activities. Permit for Rohtang Pass can only be applied for two days from the current date. You can read more at: How to get Rohtang Pass Permit Online.

There is a congestion charge of Rs 50 and permit fee of Rs 500 applicable for any vehicle passing Gulaba check post. Heavy vehicles and buses have to pay Rs 100 as congestion charges.

The permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass to Ladakh or Spiti – Lahaul Valley will also be available online this year for the convenience of such tourists. This is a good news for all those adventure junkies who suffer the pain in planning each year.

There are no restrictions or limitations of vehicles on the permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass.. Update 4th May 2017: This year onward, a daily upper cap of 800 vehicles will be enforced for all the vehicles crossing beyond Rohtang Pass to travel to Ladakh and Lahaul & Spiti Valley. More on this at the link here. Please note that there is no split of the ratio between petrol or diesel vehicles in permit type. This permit will also be available online and congestion charges of Rs 50 need to be paid for it. Earlier, there was no limit on the permit for vehicles going beyond Rohtang Pass to Ladakh & Lahaul – Spiti Valley.

The permit for Rohtang Pass is only required in case you are traveling from Manali to Rohtang Pass direction. It is not required if you travel from other direction, that is, from Khoksar to Manali over Rohtang Pass.

Please note that this year, a more mature technology based barrier system will be set up at the checkpoints of Gulaba & Khoksar. Those of you who may not know, Gulaba is about 20 KMs from Manali and 31 KMs before Rohtang Pass. Khoksar is a small settlement on the northern side of Rohtang Pass in Lahaul Valley. The distance between Khoksar – Gramphu – Rohtang pass is about 19 KMs. Gramphu is about 4 KMs from Khoksar. It is the point where road to Spiti valley bifurcates on right from Manali – Leh Highway

The new system will stop the misuse of the permit for Rohtang Pass. It will ensure that in case you have applied the permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass, the permit gets automatically verified at the Khoksar checkpoint. Data between the two checkpoints will be in sync to catch the misuse of the permit for Rohtang Pass. Hence, if you applied permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass and want to return from Rohtang Pass, then you will be caught at Gulaba checkpoint as there is no exit recorded at Khoksar for such a permit. Hence, you will have to apply the permit for Rohtang Pass only in such a case, capped to vehicle restrictions every day.

Vehicles which will not comply with the guidelines of Rohtang Pass permit and found misusing it will be blacklisted.

Taxi union is working out to appeal that the barrier should be shifted to Marhi from Gulaba due to congestion at Gulaba while Marhi provides more space to park the vehicles.

Please note, in case you could not get the permit for Rohtang Pass online, you can always apply them at SDM office in Manali. Rohtang Pass permits are also available on Sunday as well. This will helps 1000s of tourists who reaches Manali on Saturday or Sunday morning but then used to wait for an extra day to get the permit on Monday to travel to Leh – Ladakh or Spiti Valley.

Commercial activities are already banned in this area by the NGT order. An eco-friendly market of 20 shops has been set up at Marhi out of which five will be open this year.

Conclusion

I am sure that the above article will help you answer many questions about the permit for Rohtang Pass. In case you have any further doubts or questions about traveling to Rohtang pass, feel free to share it under the comments section of this article or as a travel question in our Travel Q & A section. We can discuss more on your upcoming travel plans for Rohtang Pass and beyond Rohtang Pass to Leh – Ladakh, Lahaul or Spiti Valley 🙂

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134 Comments

I am planning to visit Rohtang pass on 16 Oct in my own car and need your help to clarify a few things:

1. I can apply online for Rohtang pass permit only on 14 Oct but on 14 Oct I will be in Tirthan valley without any access to internet so I am not sure if I would be able to get the permit online. There is a link on HP website named “Permits to Visit Rohtang Pass for Tourism Purpose” where the permit can be applied for next 6 days from the current date. Can I apply for this permit or is it for commercial vehicles only?

2. If I apply for “permit beyond Rohtang” on 10 Oct and go till Sissu and come back to Manali on the same day, would that work? In that case do I need to pay only the congestion charge of Rs. 50 and nothing else?

3. If I somehow manage to get the Permit to Rohtang and want to go till Sissu, will they allow me or I can go till Rohtang pass only?

3. Also is it mandatory to carry a hard copy of the permit or can I carry the soft copy in my phone?

1. I think you can apply for Rohtang Pass PErmit 5-6 days in advance now. They have extended the period.
2. Yes, if you go to Sissu and come back, it will work because you would have crossed Khoksar checkpost technically. Yes, you need to just pay congestion fee in that case.
3. You should apply for Beyond Rohtang Pass permit if yo want o do it.
4. Better to carry printout of the permit but since the system is enabled with a computer, I think it should be OK. However, you know how it works in govt. organizations, they might need to have a hard copy as proof.

First one can be applied 6 days before the travelling date while the second one can only be applied 2 days before the travelling date. I am a bit confused as to should I go for 1st link or the 2nd link as I am a private vehicle owner?

Also if I take the permit beyond Rohtang and go till Sissu then is it mandatory for me to spend one night in Sissu or I can come back on the same day?

If you want to upto Rohtang Pass, use the link here if you are taking your own vehicle, for taxi you do not need permit the taxi guy will get it for you and beyond Rohtang Pass permit use the link here

There is no mandate to spend the night at Sissu. IN fact, you can go up to Khoksar after crossing checkpost, have lunch at Hotel Triveni Sissu and start the journey back to Manali. Once you are on the South end of Rohtang Pass, it is fairly good roads all the way to Manali. So, even if you are a bit late, it should be OK

KINDLY HELP US ,,,, WE HAVE OUR BIKE ….. BUT WE DONT HAVE LICEINCE IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO THERE WITH ALL THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT OF OUR BIKE ……….. DELHI FROM BARALACHA PASS ………. AND IS THERE ANY PERMIT IS REQUIRED

With rohtang pass permit can we go till top for rohtang pass or we get stopped at marhi? Suppose i take beyond rohtang pass permit can we go till Khoksar and come back that day itself? Thanks in advance.

Hello I am planning a trip to Spiti in December.
Is Rohtang Pass open in December?
What are the timing to cross Rohtang pass from Manali to Kaza?
What are the timing to cross Rohtang pass from Kaza to Manali?
Do I need permit for both ways?

All you need is inner line permit in Ladakh. Inner Line Permits are again required from this year (April 2017) for Indians and they can be applied online. Use the link: Ladakh Inner Line Permits Available Online. Once applied, take the print out and pay the fee at Tourist Info Center in Leh or DC Office in Leh.

You have to take Beyond Rohtang Pass Rs 50 permit to travel from Manali to Leh which is available online at the link shared int he article. Once you reach Ladakh, Inner Line Permits are again required from this year (April 2017) for Indians and they can be applied online. Use the link: Ladakh Inner Line Permits Available Online. Once applied, take the print out and pay the fee at Tourist Info Center in Leh or DC Office in Leh.

Sir i want to visit leh n i applied permit beyond rohtang it took only 50 rs as congestion charge…but when i applied for rohtang they said tht u have already registered beyond rohtang…so i need help what to do

Thnkeww tht was really helpful…one more thing sir..as i a online permit in my hand….it says in the end tht permit should be signed and stamped by transport department lahul and spiti…as i m reaching on 8th july tht is second Saturday amd i hv permit for 9 to go beyond rohtang so i hav heard iti is holidaybof sunday and second saturday..??

Hi, my name is kang from korea.
And i have a plan for ladakh travelling with 10perons.
Already i booked all accomodation and transport. But the problem is that rohthang pass is closed on tuesday.

10Jul tso moriri
11Jul jispa
12Jul manali

12Jul2017 is tuesday. So i wanna know vehicle from jispa/keylong to manali also not allowed to rohthang pass? If u know an info about that matter, plz let me know~ As i understand the rule, rohthang pass is closed on tuesday for the vehicle from manali to rohthang and above rohthang , is it right?;;

There will not be any issue Kang because you will be traveling from Leh to Manali. So, you will be allowed to cross the Rohtang Pass even if it is Tuesday. The Rohtang Pass is closed for those who just want to visit Rohtang Pass from Manali side and do not go to Leh or Spiti.

Hii dheeraj
How are you ? Got every information I need abt my leh trip one more information
As we will be camping in tso mirrori lake and at jispa also with our tents so the question is can we carry a small cylinder for cooking food or what other option for cooking and what food I should carry to be easy

Glad Vipin my blog was helpful to you. Carrying cooking cylinder is not recommended at all due to the risk it possesses. I doubt it is leagally allowed in India to carry cooking cylinder in personal cars.

I’m a big admirer of ur articles.
I have planned a Manali – Leh on my own Karnataka registered bike. is permit required for bikes? Also how does online permit work as in will I get to know I have got the pass or there is waiting and confirmation process.

Hello Dheeraj, we are going to Leh on Monday 19th June, so I will apply for Rohtang Pass permit online on Saturday 17th June. My question is do we have to apply permits for both Rohtang Pass (500) and Beyond Rohtang Pass (Congestion Charges-50) OR we just have to apply for Beyond Rohtang Pass permit? I mean do I have to pay 550 (500+50) for crossing Rohtang Pass to Leh or I just have to pay Rs 50 as congestion charges only and not 500?

Hey dheeraj we r there in manali on 24 th may this year bt cant go to rohtang pass as it was not opened bt after coming home depressed there r video uploaded in youtube on da same date way to rohtang pass.how is it possible?is there r some other way to visit rohtang pass plz let me know as i will visit again in nxt year

Not really Barnali, but yeah, if you could have travelled in local taxis going to Keylong/Lahaul, you may have made it but it is not that easy and you have to stay at Keylong for one night in such a case.

hi dheeraj , i have done solo cycling trip from manali to kaza in 2014 , now i am visiting to rohtang pass again but wanted to go to 5-6 km beyond the rohtang pass as i love that strech very much but i am confusedthat i have to take permit till rohtang pass or beyond , can i go with rohtang pass permit? , where is the permit for beyond is checked

I am travelling to Manali next week by hiring a Taxi from delhi. As I am hiring Taxi from Delhi, the operator there didn’t own the responsibility of getting a permit for Rohtang Pass. So, in case if we are fortunate enough to get a permit online, till what point will the vehicle be allowed towards Rohtang. Alternatively, if we don’t get permit, till point are we allowed to travel on Rohtang road (Marhi? or Gulaba?)

hey rajiv , i have done solo cycling trip from manali to kaza in 2014 , now i am visiting to rohtang pass again but wanted to go to 5-6 km beyond the rohtang pass as i love that strech very much but i am confusedthat i have to take permit till rohtang pass or beyond , can i go with rohtang pass permit? , where is the permit for beyond is checked

Hello, Dheeraj. I’m Planning a trip form Delhi to manali at the end of June and July Ist week. From manali we’re also thinking of going to spiti valley via rohtang pass(will also stop at rohtang also) but I’m confused about the permits and routes and all. Can you help me with that? We’re booking a taxi for our whole trip. Thanks!

Noman, your taxi guy will need to get permit to cross Rohtang Pass and go beyond it to Spiti Valley. You do not need Rohtang Pass permit but beyond Rohtang Pass permit. Your taxi guy has to manage it. In case you are not going to Spiti Valley and only up to Rohtang Pass, then you have to get Rohtang Pass permit.

Thanks for the above information!
Sir! One of my friend is suggesting that we should first go to shimla from there we can go to kaza via sangla and then manali, following this route, we can visit shimla also. What’s your say?

Hi Dheeraj, we ( me, my wife and my daughter 13 yrs) are planning to travel to Leh via Manali in Thar on 3 June. Is it ok to travel now or late in June and we r planning to stay first night at sholang valley ( for acclimatisation ) and leave early morning ( on 3rd) to jipsa so do I need to take Rohtang pass to stay at sholang valley. Appreciate your help.

Lucky, since you are with the family, I will surely recommend traveling on Manali – Leh Highway after a while, may be mid June or end of June. It gives time for roads to stabilize and also cold conditions become cooler from cold. Your plan looks good.

I am planning to visit Leh by Kaza-Gramphu road. Do I have to get Rohtang Pass permit in this case? You said that they check permits at Khoksar checkpoint which is after Gramphu on Leh highway. I can avoid Manali, Rohtang Pass and Gulaba checkpoint through this route but not Khoksar checkpoint. And what happens if the daily limit of allowed vehicles is over when I reach Khoksar checkpoint? Please help.

We are planning to go rohtang pass on bikes on 25th may .. is there will be permit available on this date …?? As i am getting very confused, folustrated em not gettin the point that how to apply for permit ..! Can u get me the whole procedure …!?

The process is simple and you can apply for permits in 2 days in advance starting from 12 PM. But, please not the permits get filled in like 12-15 minutes for the whole day. So, have a good Internet connection and make sure you know how to use the website before.

Hi Dheeraj, thank you for sharing the information, I have also read some articles related to Spiti/Kaza trip, and will refer to them again to finalise my itinerary (really helpful) . We 2 guys are planning to do a complete Delhi-Shimla-Sangla-Kaza-Kunzum-Manali-Delhi circuit road trip.
I am planning this in last week of June’17 (starting 24th june from delhi and back on 2nd july). It is clear that rohtang pass would be open but I have doubt regarding Kunzum la.
Here is some key info i seek ,
> I will visit Kunzum, Rohang from Kaza side, Will I require to obtain a pass for this, If yes then will it be only for rohtang or also for some route in between kaza – rohtang.
> Looks like Rohtang is already accessible & will be accessible in June end too, What about Kunzum pass, Will it be opened for tourists by last week of June.
> I think June end is not a peak season for this route(Del-shimla-kaza-manali), do i need to book rooms at some places in advance or It wont be necessary?
> Considering the long drive, road conditions and specially beyond Batal, I am planning to get a self drive SUV, But can this trip be taken with my i-10 (which will save 25k of self drive suv)?

I know that 9 days for this trip will be quite hectic as I wish to visit all key places. Also, it will start raining by that time, which can cause some trouble in Reckong peo area i guess.
I look forward to get your valuable inputs.

Manali – Kunzum Pass – Kaza road will also be open by end of June. Since, you will be coming from Kaza side down to Rohtang Pass, you do not need any permit for it. Actually, Kunzum Pass is almost open I believe but it is the route between Kunzum Pass and Gramphu which always has glaciers that take time. Hence, I refer to it as Manali – Kaza route instead of Kunzum Pass. Peak or not but that is the only season bro. However, if you are OK with basic stays and not choosy of your stay, then it is OK to book on the spot. Homestays will be easily available.

It can be done, yes as I have done all these circuits in my sedan and other hatches. But, it will take a good toll on the car for sure. You have to love adventure more than your car in such a case. Also, it reduces the speed as well.

Nilesh, yes, Rohtang Pass is open as you can see in our side widget too of Road status. However, govt. has still not allowed tourist vehicle movement over it. Only emergency vehicles and local of Lahaul can travel over Rohtang Pass as of now.

Would like to know if I can look at 1st of June as a possible date to start my journey on a bike from Manali to Spiti? Can you throw some light on the weather conditions around that time? How long would it take to reach Kaza if i say start at around 8 in the morning from Manali?

You need to apply for Rohtang Pass permit two day in advance after 12 PM, that is 29th and 30th May. Be as quick as possible because in season time it is very hard to get Rohtang Pass permit especially for diesel vehicles as all the local taxis are in line too.

CAN ME AND MY WIFE DO SPITI VALLEY IN END SEPTEMBER I DRIVE A WAGON R WITH ALLOY WHEELS AND IMPORTED TYRES GROUND CLEARANCE IS 185 MM .WE HAVE ALREADY DONE UK (MUNSIYARI),BHUTAN,DARJEELING,SIKKIM,AP(TAWANG)

In 2016, rohtang pass open for light vehicles on 15 May 2016 and for tourists of 21 may 2016
In 2017 rohtang open for light vehicles on 26 april, So…….will be open for tourists Around 1 week later i.e 3 may 2017 or 2 week later 10 may 2017

Hi Dheeraj,
would like to know the current status of rohtang pass opening date as i am planning for a trip to Leh on 28th May. Should i postpone in case its not viable on the said date?
Kindly reply and thanks in advance.

Ajay, Rohtang Pass was opened yesterday but road widening work is going on right now. First emergency / local vehicles will ply on Rohtang Pass and once administration feels that everything is OK and safe for travel, they will allow tourists to travel to Rohtang Pass. Looks like if weather favours, it should be open by mid of May.

Ajay, Rohtang Pass was opened yesterday but road widening work is going on right now. First emergency / local vehicles will ply on Rohtang Pass and once administration feels that everything is OK and safe for travel, they will allow tourists to travel to Rohtang Pass. Looks like if weather favours, it should be open by mid of May.

Will rohtang pass be open on 17th may. Is the news of electric bus for tourist going from manali to rohtang pass confirmed. From where and how can we get this bus to travel to rohtang pass? what are the timings for onward and return journey from manali to rohtang & vice versa?

Hi Dheeraj,
First of all, I am amazed at the information available on this site. I hope there are many more Dheeraj replicated, for other tourist destinations!

I am reaching Manali on 13 June 2017, A Tuesday, where I will be picked up by a driver with Leh registration Innova from Leh. As per your information place here , no Rohtang permits are issued on Tuesday. If I get a permit on previous day, can I pass Rohtang on 13 June , on my way to Jispa? All my bookings of LAdakh are based on my reaching Jispa on 13 June night. Please let me know the solution to this problem if Rohtang is completely closed for LEh traffic on Tuesday?

Thank you, Dr. Hemant wish I could travel to other parts of the country too till the time clones are in movies 😉

The permit for Rohtang Pass not issued on Tuesday is the permit where people want to travel just to Rohtang Pass for tourism purpose. The permit you will need is to go beyond Rohtang Pass not just to Rohtang Pass. On the permit beyond Rohtang Pass, this Tuesday restriction is is not applicable.

Short answer is: Don’t worry about it in case you going beyond Rohtang Pass.

Thanks dheeraj u answered my answer too to some extent.. as I am also travelling on 27 of June which is Tuesday I want to go to keylong from Manali so as per ur answer I don’t need that rohatang permit which is closed on Tuesday or I need some other permit or I need rohtang permit with some other permit please guide me otherwise I have to cancel all my booking in keylong as well as leh.. and one more thing is it advisable to go to leh from Srinagar side seeing the present situation in the region please guide me Mr dheeraj

You need the permit to go beyond Rohtang Pass. There is a different permit in case you want to go beyond Rohtang Pass to Lahaul, Spiti and Leh. You should be able to get that permit as there was no restriction on it.

So Dheeraj, what i collect from here is that if I have to visit Rohtang Pass by my private diesel SUV which I am doing on 19th May this year, I can try my luck online and try to get the permit 2 days in advance and not before that. Is that correct. If it is already sold out, I can get it issued from SDM office Manali. Does the SDM office have spare passes to be issued. Do they issue all 400 passes online or keep some permits for SDM office to issue. Does SDM office have a separate lot of permits over and above the 400 numbers.
Thanks for your answer.

1. Yes, you are right. You have to try your luck two days before at 12 PM. With taxi union guys fighting for diesel quota, I really doubt you may get it.
2. If the permit is sold out, you will not get the permit in SDM office as well. SDM office issue permit in case quota is not filled up and if someone is not aware of online facility.

Gulaba is about about 20 kms from Manali and not 32 KMs as mentioned in the above post. It must be Marhi that you are referring to. Marhi is about 35 KMs from Manali and 16 KMs before Rohtang Pass. Thanks for all the info and updates. You guys are the best.

Thanks Dheeraj sir for sharing useful information.
I am reaching Manali on 18 June night and planning to leave Manali on 19 June early morning (6am) on bike so how many days before I need apply for rohtang pass permit online for my Travel, and if I fail to get online permit what is the official timings to get it offline

I have bookmarked this official page for my upcoming trip for updated Rohtang permit information.
• All the vehicles be it four wheeler or two wheeler, diesel or petrol have to get a valid permit from the local governing agencies in order to visit Rohtang Pass.
• The tourists can get their permits online or they can visit the sub-divisional magistrate’s office in Manali during working hours (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to get their permits.
• One tourist permit is valid only for one vehicle and only for one day( to and fro).
• All the vehicles do not get the permit. In a day only 800 petrol vehicles and 400 diesel vehicles are given a permit.
• A vehicle is granted permits only two times in a week.
• Tuesday is marked as the maintenance day for Rohtang Pass. Hence no vehicle movement takes place on that day. Rohtang Pass is completely shut down for all tourist and civic activities on that day.
• All the tourist vehicle have to show the printout of the tourist permit at Gulaba Bridge checkpoint. Do not forget to get the permit printed at Manali because your vehicle will only be left by police from the check post if you show them the printout.
• Any vehicles whose information do not match on the permit and on the valid proof that the police may ask at the check post will not be allowed to cross the barrier.
• Tourists can get their travel permits maximum of 7 days in advance.
• Tourist can also book buses that go to Rohtang Pass a day prior from Manali. The busses are run by Government agencies and the tourist do not have to take individual travel permits.
• There are two categories of permits one permit applies to vehicles that are planning to go only till Rohtang Pass and returning back to Manali. Whereas other categories of permit consist of vehicles crossing Rohtang Pass to visit Lahaul Spiti district.
Do check out the page

Manir, you need to get permits from DC office in Leh. As per some of the folks of your countries, since last couple of years you do not need permits from MHA rather you guys can also apply now permit in LEh DC office.

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